Over 6,800 Migrants have Crossed the border from U.S to Canada since July 1st

In July, 3,996 migrants crossed the border from the United States to Canada seeking asylum. Although the Safe Third Country Agreement bars applicants from applying for refuge at legal checkpoints if they have come from the United States, the influx of migrants from the United States has increased.

This month, an estimated 250 migrants cross the border per day. In the first two weeks of August, 3,800 migrants have been arrested crossing the border at unregulated checkpoints. An estimated 85-89% of the asylum seekers are Haitian, choosing to flee to Canada rather than possibly face deportation from the United States, as TPS is slated to end for Haitians in January. Due to a backlog in cases, these migrants face months, possibly even years before they can make their cases for asylum-a process that is usually completed in weeks.

3,000 asylum seekers crossed border in July. Even more have crossed in August

CTV News, Montreal

August 17, 2017

The flood of asylum seekers crossing the Canadian border shows no sign of slowing down.

Immigration officials said that in July, 2,996 people were intercepted as they walked across the border with the United States. That’s four times the number of people who arrived in June: 781.

However in the first two weeks of August alone, more than 3,800 people crossed the border, mostly at Roxham Rd. in Hemmingford.

The influx of thousands of migrants has created massive backlogs as Canada Border Services Agency conducts background checks on each person, then hands them over to the Immigration and Refugee Board to accept or reject their claims.

It’s taking two to four days for asylum seekers to be processed at the border, during which time they are living in military tents.

Following that the hearing process — which used to be finished in a matter of weeks — is now expected to take months, perhaps more than a year, for some applicants.